Page 72 of Trust and Obey

Kendall took a step forward, one hand outstretched. “Deacon, let’s just talk about this. Honey, we should—”

“There is no we,” I said harshly. “It’s done. I’m leaving. I think you should too. Please tell your manager to close my accounts. No,” I with a sudden shake of my head. I didn’t want to give him the opportunity to mess anything up. Just in case Lauren was right. “Actually, I’ll close my own bills out. Kendall, just… just get out of here.”

Kendall looked utterly devastated. I didn’t know if it was good acting, the truth, or what. And at that moment, I didn’t care.

I turned away from him.

“You heard him. Buh-Bye,” Lauren said as Kendall hesitated.

I looked at her. “Lauren that goes for you, too.”

The shock on her face was supremely satisfying. “But, you owe me—”

“Nothing—I owe neither of you nothing. Get out!”

I turned away, muscles tensed, and heard a half-gasp as if someone were holding down a sob. I didn’t think it was Lauren. Then, the door clicked shut and finally, I was alone in my villa.

Boneless, I sat down at the table, my head falling into my hands.

It took a few minutes for me to gather myself again and place two phone calls: one to the front desk to close out my resort account through the rest of the day. The second for a private charter plane to leave the island early.

It felt as if my heart had shattered to pieces on the floor.

* * *

I was in a state of numb shock as I packed up my things. I blamed that on the fact that when I received a politely worded text message from Lauren asking if she could share the plane ride out, I replied with an affirmative.

I knew what she was up to, of course, but I also didn’t want her to stay in the resort—around Kendall—for longer than strictly necessary. My feelings and emotions were a jumbled-up mess, but I knew that leaving them together was a recipe for disaster.

I remembered nothing of the plane flight out. Not boarding, not taking off. I felt numb in the same way I had the first time I’d caught Lauren cheating.

I supposed it was heartbreak, and I cursed myself again for allowing myself to develop feelings for a vacation fling. An untrustworthy, devious fling.

The plane was a small, chartered Cessna, with about six seats all told with the exception of the pilot and copilot. I sat as far away from Lauren as possible.

She behaved herself until we were about twenty minutes out from landing.

I should have expected it. She always had needed to get the last word.

She sat next to me with a heavy thump that jarred me out of my daydream. I looked down and realized I was holding a whiskey sour in my hand. When had I even ordered that? And would it always remind me of Kendall? With a sigh, I placed the drink on the nearest tray and resolved not to touch another one for a long, long time.

“I’m still waiting for my thank you,” Lauren said.

“And I’m still waiting for an apology from you,” I replied.

She huffed. “For what? Pulling your butt out of the fire? Admit it, Deacon. You need a strong partner around you to catch all the little things that you miss.”

Kendall and I had worked flawlessly as a team while we were out on the boat during the raging storm. But our partnership had worked for even the simple things, like him setting up dinner and me getting the wine. It was as if we had unconsciously known what our strengths were and unconsciously fell into a rhythm to complete any task.

Had I made a huge mistake? No. I shook my head to banish those thoughts.

“Don’t tell me that you are seriously suggesting we get back together,” I said flatly.

She rewarded me with a mocking laugh. “No, not even if you got down on your knees and begged. That ship has sailed.”

“Lauren,” I sighed. “I am absolutely not in the mood for this. Tell me what you want.”

“I’ve already told you what I want. The divorce settlement is a joke.”

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